Uttarakhand / Rishikesh : Family is the foundation of building a better society: Swami Chidanand Saraswati

Sexual violence a major global problem

Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President, Parmarth Niketan, while expressing his deep condolences to the victims of sexual violence, said that there has been an unprecedented increase in the cases of sexual violence during the conflict and now even in the era of Kovid-19 epidemic. Members of victims of sexual violence and their entire family are unable to come out of this shock throughout their life, as well as in many places they are seen as a stigma and they also have to face social boycott and humiliation throughout their life. Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji said that sexual violence is a major global problem. Due to this, the victims have to live in the shadow of insecurity and fear, without inadequate medical facilities, legal aid, so we all have to come together to eliminate heinous crimes like sexual violence from the society. Sexual violence is a growing social evil on a global scale, from which concrete strategies are needed to overcome it. Thousands of people per day directly or indirectly go through sexual violence like rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, forced sterilization, forced marriage in society. It is against human behavior and human rights law, which is also a great obstacle in building a better society. Swamiji said that the foundation of building a better society starts from the family level. Families will have to be irrigated with sanskars because this issue is about the dignity and self-respect of the victims as well as the life of their entire family. Sometimes the victims have to live in the shadow of insecurities from generation to generation. Sexual violence is a major threat to both humanity and social security. Swamiji said that when morality starts to decline in the society, then violence is born. Therefore, education and gender equality along with widespread awareness is very important to prevent sexual violence. At the social level, we all have to unite and create such an environment where even the victims of sexual violence can live with dignity. There are national and international laws to prevent sexual violence, but this is also a matter of mentality, so for this every individual, family and institution will have to ensure their participation because the people who spread violence come from the middle of the society. Swami ji especially called upon the youth to cooperate in building a better society, where every person can live with dignity.